Musical instrument



Dec. 3, 1935. l o. SCHMIDT 2,022,692

MUSI CAL INSTRUMENT im @L INVENT R BY /ecb 4 ATTORNEYS.

Dec- 3, l93.5- o. SCHMIDT 2,022,692

vMUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 21, 1955 5 SheetS-Sheet 2 y IINVENT R @g5www @gc/6 ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 3, V1935. o. SCHMIDT MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.21, 19551 INVENTOR a ,@mm' BY gc/dw l ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 3, 1935 PATENT OFFICE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Otto Schmidt, NewYork, N. Y., assigner to M. Hohner, Inc., New York, N. Y., a.corporation of New York Application December 21, 1933, Serial No.703,394

9 Claims.

vMy invention relates to a new and improved accordion or other musicalinstrument which is operated by means of keys. The invention relatesparticularly to musical instruments which utilize reeds, although it isnot limited to such instruments.

Whenever I refer to accordions, it is to be understood that I Wish toinclude similar instruments such as concertinas and the like.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a musical instrumentwhich has reeds, and which has a plurality of valves for controllingSaid reeds. A key of said instrument may be associated with one or moresupplemental controls, each of said supplemental controls beingassociated at will with one or more of said valves, so that differenttone combinations can be secured.

Another objectof my invention is to provide a control which shallfacilitate the rapid playing of the vinstrument and which shall alsoenable the instrument to `deliver an augmented Volume of sound.

vOther objectsof my invention .will .be set forth in the followingdescription and drawings which illustratera preferred embodimentthereof, it being understood that the above general statement of theobjects of my invention is intended merely to generally explain 'thesame and not to limit it in any manner.

Fig. 'l -is a perspective plan view showing an embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 11a .is a front elevationof the treble side of theiinstrumentgthecovering grille which over- .lies the valves having ybeen removed, inorder tofmore clearly illustrate certain ofthe parts.

Figs. Zand 3 are respectively sections on the lines A2-'2 and3-3 of Fig.1.

rlFigs. i4 and 5 are respectively Asections on the ilinesv4--4 and 5--5of Fig. 3.

The instrument generally comprises a treble side I, a bass side 2, andbellows 3. The treble side 'I is provided with white keys 4 and blackkeys 4a of the usual type. The bass side of the instrument is providedwith bass keys 5 of the usual'type.

The instrument may also embody other conventional features such as astrap 6, and a slide 1 for controlling the slide registerofione or morereed blocks on the treblezsideof thelinstrument.

Referring to Fig. 3, the White -keys 4 are provided with pivots 8, andthe black keys 4a are provided kwith pivots 9. 'I'hese pivots are of thelusual type.

The keys 4 andf4a are connected to valves V and Va of the usual type andeach of said valves controls the air supply to one or more reeds.Ordinarily each of said Valves controls a pair of passages iii, in anassociated reed block I! so that each of said Valves controls theoperation of a pair of reeds which are associated in the 5 usual mannerwith said passages.

As shown in Fig. 3, each of said keys 4 and 4a has a pin I2a which canactuate a button I2, having a shank I4. Said button I2 has `an inclinedface adjacent the pin i211.

This shank I4 pushes a slidable member which is located in a cable C.`This slidable member may be a closely wound helical spring, as shown inthe Gray Patent No. 1,314,867. Likewise, I can use a Bowden Wire, of thetype which is l5 shown in Williams U. S. Patent No. 1,284,523.

Generally speaking the cable C may have a helical spring having asuiiicient pitch so that said cable can be readily bent, and said cableC may have any suitable ilexible outer covering 2o sleeve lfor saidspring.

As shown in Fig. 3, the inner end of each cable C is provided with `asleeve I5, which is screwed into a hollow'block I6. Said block I6 ismounted upon an endless steel band B.

As shown in Fig. 5, the band B is provided with a series of said blocksI6, and each of said blocks is associated with one of said cables C. Theband B is slidably located between spaced lugs Il, which may be turnablyconnected to the adjacent part of the frame of the device.

As shown in Fig. 5, the inner end of the spring slide member of eachcable C is provided with an operating pin I8. Likewise and as shown inFig. 5, the band B is provided with a series of openings which arealways in register with the openings of the blocks I6, in the planarpart of said band.

Each pin I8 is actuated through a corresponding opening of the band B,so as to open the adjacent valve V or Va.

The band B can be shifted so that the pin I8 which is associated with aparticular key 4 or fia, can be moved into alignment with one of a largenumber of valves, so that the operation of a key 4 or 4a may help tocause the associated pin i8 to help in opening the valve directlyassociated with said key, or said pin I8 can open a valve which isassociated with a different key.

Hence the operation of key 4 or 4a can cause 50 one valve to be opened,or it can cause two or more valves to be opened. In order to shift theband B, arms 2B and 2| are connected to a pair of blocks I5. These arms20 and 2l are connected to main control cables 22 and 23 and 55 of theband B causes the simultaneous shifting of the members I8 of the cablesC. The cables C have suitable return springs associated with theirslidable members, so thatpthe pins I8 are retracted when thecorresponding keys 4 andr 4a are allowed to spring back to theirinoperative positions. Upon pushing button 25 to the right of theposition shown in Fig. 5, the band B is shifted in the clockwisedirection.

The control cables 22 and 23 do not have springs associated with theircontrol members, so that the band B remains in the adjusted position towhich it has been shifted. The Shanks 24a and 25a are long enoughtopermit the shifting of the cables 22 and 23 to any desired extent.

The pins IB are moved through openings in a suitable frame-piece F inorder to operate the valves V and Va.

A scale can be provided adjacent the buttons 24 and 25 so that theplayer can shift either of said buttons through the proper distance.

A lost motion is provided between each valve V or Va and associated keys4 and 4a so that a pin I8 can operate a valve without simultaneouslyoperating a key 4 or 4a.

.For this purpose each of said valves, V, is provided with a pivot arm38 which is pivoted at 3I to the fra-me of the machine. A spring 32normally holds each valve V in its closed position.

As shown in Fig. 3, the key 4 is provided with an upstanding rod 33which pushes against the inner face of a lug 34 of the valve V. Hencethe valve V can be operated by the pin I8 without moving the key 4.

Referring to Fig. 2, each black key 4a has a rod 48 connected theretoand said rod 40 has an end which abuts the inner surface of a lug of theassociated valve Va. Eaclh said valve Va is provided with a pivot rod4I, which is connected by a pivot 42 to an arm of the framework of theinstrument. Hence each valve Va can be operated by: a pin I8 withoutoperating the key 4a.

As shown in Fig. 2, the improvements make it possible to use only sixseries of reeds, while securing the same volume and general effect asthough eight series of reeds were employed.

In the embodiment shown herein, the movement of a key 4 or 4a need notnecessarily operate more than one valve, because the pin I8 which isassociated with a key 4 or 4a may be aligned with the same valve whichis operated by the respective key. Likewise, in this embodiment, eac-hsaid key 4 and 4a can only control a maximum of two valves because eachsaid key only has a single control cable C associated therewith.

However a plurality of control cables may be associated with one or moreof the keys 4 and 4a, so that the movement of a key 4 or 4a, may controla chord having any desired number of notes.

A spacing strip Fa of cardboard or the like is provided, as shown inFig. 2.

If it is desired to play the instrument very rapidly whilecausing eachkey 4 or 4a to operate the valve which is directly associated therewith,the band B can be shifted so that the pin I8 of each control device Coperates the same valve which is normally operated by the key whichactuates the respective control device.

A relatively slight turning movement of a key 4 or 4a will then causethe opening of the associated valve. This arrangement facilitates therapid playing of the instrument, because the player is not compelled tofully depress the keys 4 and 4a.

Since the pins I8 are made( of thin wire, the band B should be adjustedso that each said pin is aligned with a corresponding opening in themember F. For this purpose the buttons 24 and 25 can be provided withsuitable spring pressed wedges or clicks, and the adjacent surface ofthe frame of the instrument can be provided withL be aligned with theopenings of the frame memv ber F.

Likewise each said control device C can be provided with a spring whichwill permit a certain lost motion between the lshank I4 and the slidableinner member of said control device C. Hence, if the pins I8 areadjacent imperforate portions of the frame F, the springs o'f saidcontrol devices C willyield when the keys 4 and 4a are depressed, sothat the pins I8 will not be forced against the imperforate portions ofthe frame F, with excessive pressure.

Whenever I refer in the claims to an accordion, it is to be understoodthat I include all instruments having reeds and which are provided withvalves which are operated by means of keys.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is to beunderstood that numerous changes and omissions may be made withoutdeparting from the same.

Thus, while I prefer to have the valves operable independently of keys 4and 4a, this invention is not limited to this improvement. By suitablyinclining the faces of a member I2, so that it has. a small anglerelative to the key, the valve can be opened by a partial movement ofthe key.

I claim:

1. An accordion having reeds and control valves for said reeds, and keyswhich are adapted to actuate said valves, said valves being movableindependently of said keys, and additional individual operating deviceseach of which is operated by one of said keys, said additional operatingdevices being adapted to actuate said valves, and means adapted to shiftsaid additional operating devices relative to said valves.

2. An accordion having reeds and control valves for said reeds, and keyswhich are adapted to actuate said valves, said valves being movableindependently of said keys, and additional operating devices which areoperated by said keys, said additional operating devices being adaptedto actuate said valves, said additional operating devices comprisingflexible sheaths having flexible slide members located therein.

3. An accordion having reeds and control valves F ing ends which areadapted to actuate said valves, and means for shifting the operatingends of said additional operating devices, in order to select the valveswhich are operated thereby.

4. An accordion having reeds and control valves for said reeds, and keyswhich are adapted to actuate said valves, said valves being movableindependently of said keys, and additional operating devices which areoperated by said keys, said additional operating devices havingoperating ends which are adapted to actuate said valves, said additionaloperating devices comprising flexible sheaths having exible slidemembers located therein, and means for shifting the operating ends ofsaid additional operating devices, in order to select the valves whichare operated thereby.

5. An accordion having reeds and control valves for said reeds, and keyswhich are adapted to actuate said valves, and additional operatingdevices Which are operated by said keys and which are adapted to actuatesaid valves, said valves being operable independently of said keys, saidadditional operating devices being movable to open said valves bypartial movements of said keys.

6. An accordion having reeds and control valves for said reeds, and keyswhich are adapted to actuate said valves, and additional operatingdevices Which are operated by said keys and which have ends which areadapted to actuate said valves, and a movable member in which said endsof said operating devices are located, said movable member being movablerelative to said valves.

7. An accordion having reeds and control valves for said reeds, and keyswhich are adapted to actuate said valves, and additional operatingdevices Which are operated by said keys and which have ends which areadapted to actuate said valves, and a movable member in which said endsof said operating devices are located, said movable member being movablerelative to said valves, said movable member being an endless band whichis made of flexible material.

8. An accordion having reeds and control valves :for said reeds, andkeys which are adapted to actuate said valves, and additional operatingdevices Which are operated by said keys and which have ends which areadapted to actuate said valves, and a movable member in which said endsof said operating devices are located, said movable member being movablerelative to said valves, and actuating devices for said movable member,said actuating devices comprising flexible slidable members which arelocated in flexible sheaths.

9. An accordion having reeds and control valves for said reeds, and keyswhich are adapted to actuate said valves, and additional operatingdevices vvhich are operated by said keys and which have ends which areadapted to actuate said valves, and a movable member in which said endso'rro SCHMIDT.

